Return of SOMME Company, London Regiment from Helmand

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Clanker

The City of London is to hold a medal ceremony for more than 140 troops from the Somme Company on Oct 14 when they return from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Lord Mayor John Stuttard, who will be hosting the event, said: "Our soldiers risk their lives for the values we all hold dear and the City is proud to welcome them home.

"Their sacrifice and dedication deserves the widest recognition and the covenant with our armed forces would be much strengthened if towns and cities across the UK could find public ways of saying 'thank you'."

Well done SOMME and, when you get back, welcome back to the UK.For OPSEC - can we make sure the venue & time of the parade is NOT publicised.

ADC

LE

The City of London is to hold a medal ceremony for more than 140 troops from the Somme Company on Oct 14 when they return from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Lord Mayor John Stuttard, who will be hosting the event, said: "Our soldiers risk their lives for the values we all hold dear and the City is proud to welcome them home.

"Their sacrifice and dedication deserves the widest recognition and the covenant with our armed forces would be much strengthened if towns and cities across the UK could find public ways of saying 'thank you'."

Well done SOMME and, when you get back, welcome back to the UK.For OPSEC - can we make sure the venue & time of the parade is NOT publicised.

while i understand what you are saying regarding Opsec i do hope that much is made to ensure that it is widely reported so as to show both Somme company and the wider ONE ARMY we do care and to show the wider public that we have operations that are politicaly unpopular but that the soldiers do have both our respect and appriciation of their service.

Clanker

while i understand what you are saying regarding Opsec i do hope that much is made to ensure that it is widely reported so as to show both Somme company and the wider ONE ARMY we do care and to show the wider public that we have operations that are politicaly unpopular but that the soldiers do have both our respect and appriciation of their service.

Clanker

Perhaps we can move on from "why isn't it being widely publicised etc." and focus on the fact that the City of London Corporation is providing, and paying for, a parade and reception for SOMME Company and their families (the two most important parts of the jigsaw).

Given this was offered & arranged before CGS' speech on the subject, I think they deserve some praise and thanks.

LE

I hope, however, that similar arrangements will be put in place for the return of other formed TA sub-units from Afghanistan - such as the composite squadron from 151 (London) Tpt Regt RLC currently out there.

Clanker

City of London to welcome the troops home from Afghanistan with medal parade

More than 140 returning troops from Afghanistan will be welcomed home on Sunday 14 October, with a Guildhall medal parade reviewed by the City of London Lord Mayor John Stuttard, former Lord Mayor and Hon Colonel of The London Regiment Sir Michael Savory, and Guildhall Chief Commoner Pauline Halliday.

"Somme Company", which has served six months on operations, is made up of TA soldiers of The London Regiment and other units, regular reservists and also 26 Grenadier Guards - part of 12 Mechanised Brigade. "Our soldiers risk their lives for the values we all hold dear and the City is proud to welcome them home," said Lord Mayor Stuttard, whose main role as elected head of the City of London Corporation is to represent the UK-based financial services industry.

"The sacrifice and dedication of British troops deserves wide recognition and the Covenant with our armed forces would be much strengthened if towns and cities across the UK could find public ways of saying "thank you", said the Lord Mayor.

Both The London Regiment and the Grenadier Guards are among the privileged regiments allowed to march with colours in the City, but more than 170 military units have special connections with the City of London, now the Square Mile business district, following centuries of support. The November Lord Mayor's Show traditionally has a large military component.

The soldiers taking part will have returned just before from active service and those parading will include at least 80 TA soldiers.

Clanker

Old-Salt

F & G Coys 7 RIFLES were part of LONDONS until last year, before that they were part of 4RGJ.

Writing of F & G Coys, good luck to all of them (and LONDON's MTO) who have replaced Somme Company on Op HERRICK with Salonika Company, 7 RIFLES and, as David Niven called his one novel, "Go slowly, come back quickly".